A team lunch or business lunch in the West End should be about the conversation, not about wrangling a long menu across a table of busy people. Our Express Lunch keeps it simple: everyone chooses one main, and each plate comes with pilau rice and a mini naan. It is served from 12pm to 4pm, which gives you room to fit it around meetings.
Here is why a set lunch works so well for colleagues and clients, what is on it, and when you might want our group menu instead.
Why a set lunch works for teams
Anyone who has organised a team lunch knows where the time goes: menus passed round, questions about sides, debates over whether to share, and a bill that takes as long to split as the meal took to eat. A set lunch removes most of that.
- Quick decisions. There are six mains to choose from, so most people know what they want within a minute or two.
- Nothing extra to organise. Pilau rice and a mini naan come with every main, so nobody needs to work out sides or bread for the table.
- Everyone eats the same way. Each person has their own complete plate, which suits a working lunch where people may need to leave at different times.
- Easy to plan around. Because the format is fixed, you can plan your lunch hour with more confidence. If you are on a tight schedule, tell us when you book.
What is on the Express Lunch
The mains are drawn from our full menu:
- Chicken Tikka Masala: tandoori chicken tikka in a smooth, creamy masala sauce.
- Butter Chicken: tender chicken in a rich tomato, butter and cream sauce.
- Chicken Bhuna: browned onions in a medium-thick sauce.
- Chicken Madras: fairly hot, strongly spiced with plenty of sauce.
- Vegetable Curry: a comforting vegetarian main.
- Tarka Dall: lentils with butter, herbs, fried garlic and aromatic spices.
That spread covers most tastes in a typical team. There are two mild, creamy chicken dishes for people who prefer gentle spice, a savoury Bhuna, a Madras for anyone who likes heat, and two vegetarian choices. If someone is new to Indian food, our guide on how to order Indian food is a useful primer to share before you go.
Vegetarian choices and dietary needs
A good team lunch has to work for everyone at the table, not just the majority. The Express Lunch includes two vegetarian mains, the Vegetable Curry and the Tarka Dall, so vegetarian colleagues get a proper choice rather than a single token dish.
If anyone in your group has an allergy or a specific dietary requirement, let us know in advance so the kitchen can advise.
Please tell us about allergies when you book. Our kitchen handles nuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya and sesame.
Client lunches and lunch meetings
A lunch meeting has slightly different needs from a team outing. You want a setting that lets you talk, food that arrives without fuss, and a meal that does not dominate the agenda. A set lunch helps here too: once everyone has ordered, the menu is out of the way and the conversation can carry on.
Because every plate is a complete meal, there is also none of the awkwardness of sharing dishes with someone you have only just met. Each person orders what they like, and the table stays tidy enough for a notebook or a laptop once the plates are cleared.
The Express Lunch runs until 4pm, so it also suits a late lunch after a morning of meetings, or a working session that starts after midday.
When to book the group menu instead
The Express Lunch is ideal when time is short. For bigger celebrations or longer occasions, such as a team milestone, a leaving lunch or a client thank-you, our group set menu is a better fit. Every guest gets the Maharaja Mixed Starter, one main, pilau rice and plain naan, with three levels to choose from and vegetarian choices available. All guests in a party dine from the same option, which keeps ordering simple for larger tables.
If you would like a more private setting for a meeting or celebration, have a look at our private dining options too.
Book your team lunch
For a quick, well-organised team lunch or business lunch in central London, with one main, pilau rice and a mini naan for everyone, see our Express Lunch page and book a table for your team.
